Abstract:

A kickover tool for placing and extracting a valve in a mandrel having a
hydraulic piston, a kickover arm portion mechanically connected to the
hydraulic piston, the kickover arm portion being actuated by application
of pressure to the piston. Upon full stoke of the piston, pressure is
relieved, and measurement of the pressure relief can be used to indicate
proper placement in a side pocket mandrel.

Claims:

1. A tool for inserting and removing a valve in a mandrel, comprising:a
body that extends in a longitudinal direction and has a first end and a
second end, a hydraulic chamber being within the body and extending from
the first end, the first end and the hydraulic chamber being
hydraulically connectable to coiled tubing;a piston chamber inside the
body, the piston chamber extending from a second end of the body, one end
of the piston chamber being hydraulically connected to the hydraulic
chamber, and an opposite end of the piston chamber being connected with
an opening that connects with outside of the body,a piston is slidably
located within the piston chamber;wherein, when the piston is most distal
from the hydraulic chamber the hydraulic chamber is fluidly connected
through the opening with the outside of the body;an actuation device is
connected to the piston, the actuation device comprises:an actuation part
having a first position and a second position;the piston is slidably
connected with the actuation part and is fastened with the actuation part
by way of a shear pin;wherein when the shear pin is not sheared, upon
actuation and movement of the piston the actuation part moves to the
second position;the actuator device is mechanically connected to a
kickover arm device; andthe kickover arm device has a non-kicked-over
position and a kicked-over position;wherein, when the actuation part is
in the first position, the kickover arm device is prevented from moving
from the non-kicked-over position to the kicked-over position, and when
the actuation part is in the second position, the kickover arm tool is
allowed to move from the non-kicked-over position into the kicked-over
position.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a snap latch portion,
the snap latch portion being a movable part that extends from the body
part in a radial direction and has a stepped portion, the stepped portion
being adapted to abut a face inside a completion part to hold the tool in
the longitudinal direction.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the body part comprises a locating key
section, the locating key section being a movable part that extends from
the body part in a radial direction and has protrusions forming a pattern
that extends in the radial direction, the pattern of protrusions is
adapted to fit a corresponding pattern of recesses in a completion part
thereby holding the tool in place in the axial direction.

4. The tool of claim 1, comprising a valve within the piston chamber and a
pressure opening on the radial surface of the body connecting the
pressure chamber and an area external to the body, the valve opening and
closing connection through the pressure opening, the opening and closing
being actuated by varying flow through the pressure chamber.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein the valve is slidable within the pressure
chamber, the valve having a first position where the valve is proximal to
the first end of the body and a second position where the valve is distal
to the first end of the body, and when in the first position
communication through the pressure chamber is open and when in the second
position communication through the pressure chamber is closed.

6. The tool of claim 1, comprising a shear member that interconnects with
the piston and the body thereby preventing movement of the piston, the
shear member being sheared upon application of a threshold force to the
piston.

7. The tool of claim 1, comprising a shear member that interconnects with
the first actuation part thereby preventing movement of the actuation
part, the shear member being sheared upon application of a threshold
force to the first actuation part.

8. The tool of claim 1, wherein when the kickover arm is in the
non-kicked-over position a longitudinal axis of the arm is substantially
parallel with a longitudinal axis of the piston and when the kickover arm
is in the kicked-over position the longitudinal axis of the kickover arm
is substantially non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the piston.

9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the piston chamber has a first portion
with a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter, the
first diameter being smaller than the second diameter;the piston is
slidably located within the piston chamber and has a first end and a
second end; andthe first end of the piston has a smaller diameter than
the first diameter and the second diameter of the piston chamber.

10. The tool of claim 1, wherein the body part comprises an orientation
key, the orientation key extending from the body part in a radial
direction.

11. A kickover tool for placing and extracting a valve in a mandrel,
comprising:a tool body extending in a longitudinal direction and having a
hydraulic piston chamber therein, the tool body having a first end and a
second end, the first end adapted to connect to a pressure source;a
hydraulic piston located inside the hydraulic piston chamber;a kickover
arm portion mechanically connected to the hydraulic piston, the kickover
arm portion comprising a kickover arm having a tool portion;the kickover
arm has a non-kicked-over position where the kickover arm is
substantially coaxial with the longitudinal direction and a kicked-over
position where the kickover arm is substantially non-coaxial with the
longitudinal direction;wherein the kickover arm moves to the kicked-over
position upon application of pressure at the first end of the hydraulic
piston chamber thereby extending the hydraulic piston, anda passage
proximate to the second end of the hydraulic piston chamber connecting
the hydraulic piston chamber through the tool body to outside of the tool
body.

12. The kickover tool of claim 1, wherein the kickover arm portion
comprises an actuation part and the actuation part is mechanically
connected to the hydraulic piston, the actuation part having a first
position and a second position, the first position preventing the
kickover arm from moving to the kicked-over position and the second
position allowing the kickover arm to move to the kicked-over position.

13. The kickover tool of claim 1, comprising a valve within the piston
chamber and a pressure opening on the radial surface of the body
connecting the pressure chamber and an area external to the body, the
valve opening and closing connection through the pressure opening, the
opening and closing being actuated by varying flow through the pressure
chamber.

14. The kickover tool of claim 1, wherein the kickover arm portion can
move in the longitudinal direction with reference to the tool body by way
of extension and contraction of the hydraulic piston.

15. The kickover tool of claim 1, wherein the kickover arm is biased from
the non-kicked-over position to the kicked-over position by springs.

16. A method for placing and removing a valve in a downhole mandrel using
a hydraulically actuated kickover tool, comprising:connecting the
kickover tool to coiled tubing;placing the kickover tool
downhole;increasing hydraulic pressure in the coiled tubing, thereby
actuating a kickover arm of the kickover tool from a non-kicked-over
position to a kicked-over position.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising:using a locating key section to
locate a matching mandrel.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising:using a snap to hold the kickover
tool in an uphole direction.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising:providing hydraulic pressure to
extend a piston inside the kickover tool and thereby move the kickover
arm toward a side pocket in the mandrel to place a valve.

20. The kickover tool of claim 1, wherein one end of the hydraulic piston
chamber is hydraulically connectable to coiled tubing.

21. The kickover tool of claim 1, comprising a spring chamber for
generating pressure in the pressure chamber.

22. The kickover tool of claim 1, comprising a nitrogen chamber for
generating pressure in the pressure chamber.

23. The method of claim 19, comprising:measuring the pressure applied to
extend the piston;applying pressure so that the kickover arm extends to
the side pocket mandrel and bottoms out thereby providing resistance to
the piston extension;subsequently providing further pressure to shear
shear pins and provide a further piston stroke that relieves the
pressure; andmeasuring the pressure and the pressure relief to detect
proper placement in the side pocket mandrel.

[0004]One of those, gas lift valves, are used to artificially lift oil
from wells where there is insufficient reservoir pressure to produce the
well. The associated process involves injecting gas through the
tubing-casing anulus. Injected gas aerates the fluid to make the fluid
less dense; the formation pressure is then able to lift the oil column
and forces the fluid out of the wellbore. Gas may be injected
continuously or intermittently, depending on the producing
characteristics of the well and the arrangement of the gas-lift
equipment.

[0005]A mandrel is a device installed in the tubing string of a gas-lift
well onto which or into which a gas-lift valve is fitted. There are two
common types of mandrels. In one conventional gas-lift mandrel, the
gas-lift valve is installed as the tubing is placed in the well. Thus, to
replace or repair the valve, the tubing string must be pulled. The second
type is a sidepocket mandrel where the valve is installed and removed by
wireline while the mandrel is still in the well, eliminating the need to
pull the tubing to repair or replace the valve.

[0006]With the sidepocket mandrel, the gas lift valves are replaced with a
kickover tool. The Kickover tool is lowered into wells to place and
remove gas lift valves. Normally, a kickover tool is lowered downhole by
wireline. A kickover arm of the kickover tool is actuated mechanically to
actuate the kickover arm.

[0007]Existing kickover tools are generally intended for use in relatively
vertical wells, i.e., wells with a deviation not more than about 45
degrees. Those designs are usually delivered by wireline. However, those
designs have limited use in more horizontal wells that are prevalent now.
Additionally, there are drawbacks associated with mechanical actuation of
the kickover arm and the wireline deployment technique. Thus, there is a
need for a kickover tool that will perform well in all situations and
provide benefits in wells that are more horizontal.

[0008]The present application describes designs that address those issues
and limitations associated with mechanically actuated kickover tools that
are deployed by wireline in vertical holes.

SUMMARY

[0009]A non-limiting embodiment of the invention includes a tool for
inserting and removing a valve in a mandrel having a body that extends in
a longitudinal direction and has a first end and a second end. A
hydraulic chamber is within the body and extending from the first end.
The first end and the hydraulic chamber being hydraulically connectable
to coiled tubing. A piston chamber is inside the body. The piston chamber
extends from a second end of the body. One end of the piston chamber is
hydraulically connected to the hydraulic chamber, and an opposite end of
the piston chamber is connected with an opening that connects with
outside of the body. A piston is slidably located within the piston
chamber. When the piston is most distal from the hydraulic chamber the
hydraulic chamber is fluidly connected through the opening with the
outside of the body. An actuation device is connected to the piston. The
actuation device has an actuation part having a first position and a
second position. The piston is slidably connected with the actuation part
and is fastened with the actuation part by way of a shear pin. When the
shear pin is not sheared, upon actuation and movement of the piston the
actuation part moves to the second position. The actuator device is
mechanically connected to a kickover arm device. The kickover arm device
has a non-kicked-over position and a kicked-over position. When the
actuation part is in the first position, the kickover arm device is
prevented from moving from the non-kicked-over position to the
kicked-over position. When the actuation part is in the second position,
the kickover arm tool is allowed to move from the non-kicked-over
position into the kicked-over position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a portion of a kickover tool.

[0011]FIG. 2 shows a portion of the kickover tool to the right of the
portion shown in FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 3 shows a portion of the kickover tool to the right of the
portion shown in FIG. 2.

[0013]FIG. 4 shows a portion of the kickover tool to the right of the
portion shown in FIG. 3.

[0014]FIG. 5 shows a portion of the kickover tool to the right of the
portion shown in FIG. 4.

[0015]FIG. 6 shows a portion of the kickover tool to the right of the
portion shown in FIG. 5.

[0018]In the following description, numerous details are set forth to
provide an understanding of the present application. However, one skilled
in the art will understand that the present application may be practiced
without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from
the described embodiments are possible.

[0019]As used here, the terms "above" and "below"; "up" and "down";
"upper" and "lower"; "upwardly" and "downwardly"; and other like terms
indicating relative positions above or below a given point or element are
used in this description to more clearly describe some embodiments.
However, when applied to equipment and methods for use in wells that are
deviated or horizontal, such terms may refer to a left to right, right to
left, or diagonal relationship as appropriate.

[0021]FIG. 1 shows a first end of the kickover tool 100. The main body of
the kickover tool 100 includes a first part 1. The first part 1 includes
therein a pressure chamber 10 that extends along a longitudinal axis
within the kickover tool 100. The first part 1 includes a female toothed
region 11 that connects with a corresponding part of coiled tubing (not
shown). The coiled tubing can provide pressure to the pressure chamber
10. Tubing other than coiled tubing can be used instead, e.g., piping or
other materials. Wireline can also be used, and pressure in the chamber
can be generated by a spring chamber or a nitrogen chamber. The spring
chamber or nitrogen chamber could be actuated mechanically or by
hydraulic pressure transmitted through the coiled tubing. Many attachment
configurations can be used such as clamping, bolting or welding. Other
gas type chambers can be used in place of the nitrogen chamber. The first
part 1 connects to a second part 2. The first part 1 and the second part
2 can be secured to one another by one or more bolts 12. The first part 1
and the second part 2 could be replaced by a single unitary part or
multiple parts.

[0022]FIG. 2 shows a portion of the kickover tool 100 to the right of the
portion shown in FIG. 1. The second part 2 includes a snap lock portion
20. The snap lock portion 20 extends from the second part 2 in a radial
direction and is moveable in and out in the radial direction. The in/out
movement is achieved by spring action of the second part 2. The in/out
motion can also be from hydraulic pressure, e.g., from the pressure
chamber 10. The snap lock portion 20 has a stepped portion 20a that is
configured to abut a corresponding surface in a landing coupling portion
of a dowhole mandrel to provide a locking force in the uphole axial
direction. The snap lock portion 20 also provides placement guidance for
the kickover tool 100. An extension of the first part 1 connects to a
third part 3. The first part 1 and the third part 3 are shown as separate
parts but could be a single unitary part or multiple parts. The first
part 1 and the third part 3 can be secured to one another by one or more
bolts 12. The third part 3 includes an extension of the pressure chamber
10. The third part 3 also includes a locator key part 30. The locator key
part 30 is supported on the third part 3 by springs 32 that provide bias
in the radial direction and allows the locator key part 30 to move in/out
in the radial direction. The locator key part 30 has protruding portions
34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e and 34f that are formed in a predetermined
pattern. There can be more or fewer protruding portions than shown. The
pattern of protruding portions 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e and 34f is
designed to match a corresponding pattern of recesses on an inside
surface of a landing coupling portion of a downhole mandrel to locate the
kickover tool 100. That is, the locator key 30 will lock into a mandrel
with a proper configuration of recesses, thereby locating the kickover
tool 100 properly in the intended mandrel. Though springs 32 are shown, a
number of biasing devices could be used including elastomeric materials,
cushions, linear springs, etc.

[0023]FIG. 3 shows a portion of the kickover tool 100 that is to the right
of the portion shown in FIG. 2. A fourth part 4 is connected with the
third part 3. The fourth part 4 and the third part 3 could be a single
unitary part or multiple parts. The fourth part 4 makes up a valve 40
comprising an outer valve portion 40a and an inner valve portion 40b. The
inner valve portion 40b is slidably located within the outer valve
portion 40a. At least one passageway 46 fluidly connects a volume 42
inside the inner valve 40b to outside the kickover tool 100. The volume
42 is hydraulically connected with the pressure chamber 10. The inner
valve 40b has a first position where the inner valve 40b is to the left.
The inner valve 40b has a second position that is to the right. When the
inner valve 40b is in the first position (to the left) the passageway 46
is open and the volume 42 is hydraulically connected to the outside of
the kickover tool 100. When the inner valve 40b is in the second position
(to the right) the passageway 46 is closed and the volume 42 is not
connected to the outside of the kickover tool 100.

[0024]One advantage of the configuration described above is an ability to
flush out debris that may be present in an inside diameter of a wellbore
or completion component. Also, this configuration allows the coiled
tubing to be filled by pumping while running in hole (if desired) without
building up pressure differential or trapping air in the coiled tubing.
Further, the configuration allows circulation to be maintained while
running in hole to ensure that the coiled tubing can pump down the coil,
which is related to well control reasons. That is, when the inner valve
40b is in the first position (to the left) fluid can be forced through
the pressure chamber 10 and out the passageway 46 thereby performing the
flushing out operation. The valve 40b can be moved from the first
position (to the left) to the second position (to the right) by
increasing the flow of fluid through the volume 42.

[0025]FIG. 3 shows a fifth part 5 that is connected with the fourth part
4. The fourth part 4 includes an extension 43 of the pressure chamber 10.
The fifth part 5 and the fourth part 4 can be a unitary part or multiple
parts. Further, the fifth part 5 includes a hydraulic piston chamber 10b.
A hydraulic piston 50 is located inside the hydraulic piston chamber 10b.
A first end of the piston 50a is hydraulically connected to the extension
43. As hydraulic pressure increases in the extension 43 pressure is
transferred to the end 50a of the piston 50. The piston 50 moves within
the piston chamber 10b.

[0026]FIG. 4 shows a portion of the kickover tool 100 that is to the right
of the portion shown in FIG. 3. The piston 50 extends within the piston
chamber 10b. A downhole side 10c of the piston chamber is shown. The
piston chamber 10c is hydraulically connected to outside the kickover
tool 100 by way of passageways 54. As is shown, when a certain pressure
is applied to the end 50a a shear pin 15 is sheared and allows movement.
When the end 50a moves to the right, the extension 43 becomes fluidly
connected through the piston chamber 10b, the piston chamber 10c, and
passageways 54 to allow for pressure relief. The fifth part 5 connects
with a sixth part 6. The fifth part 5 and the sixth part 6 could be a
single unitary part or multiple parts. An orientation key 60 is connected
to the surface of the sixth part 6. The orientation key 60 comprises a
protruding portion that extends beyond a surface of the sixth part 6. The
orientation key 60 can be movable in/out in the radial direction and can
be biased by springs 62 in the radial direction. Bolts 61 can be used to
secure the orientation key 60. In operation, as the kickover tool 100 is
lowered downhole and in proximity to a mandrel, orienting sleeves (FIG.
7) are encountered. The orienting sleeves are angled and contact the
orientation key 60 thereby rotating the kickover tool 100 to a proper
angle. A downhole direction orienting sleeve can be used, and an uphole
orientating sleeve can be used. As the orienting key 60 passes through
the downhole orienting sleeve in the downhole direction the kickover tool
100 is rotated. Also, as the orienting key 60 travels through the
orienting sleeve in the uphole direction, the kickover tool 100 rotates.
That aspect is beneficial because when lowering in the downhole
direction, there is potential for the orienting key 60 to contact a
"point" of the orienting sleeve and to not achieve rotation. Thus, by
lowering the kickover tool 100 and then raising the kickover tool 100
within a mandrel, any chances of the kickover tool 100 being improperly
oriented are greatly reduced.

[0027]FIG. 5 shows an extension 50c of the piston 50 that extends into a
seventh part 7. The piston extension 50c connects with and extends into
an actuation part 56 that is slidably located inside the seventh part 7.
The actuation part 56 is biased to the left by a spring 59. The actuation
part 56 is within and adjacent to another actuation part 58. Shear pins
57 extend from the actuation part 56 into the piston extension 50c. A
shear pin 63 can extend between the actuation part 56 and the actuation
part 58 as shown and can shear under certain force. Alternatively, no
shear pin can be present between the actuation part 56 and the actuation
part 58. Also, the actuation part 56 and the actuation part 58 can be a
single unified part. Under a certain force, the shear pins 57 will shear,
but absent shear the movement of the piston extension 50c and the
actuation part 56 is unified. The actuation part 58 has a first position
that is to the left and a second position that is to the right. As shown,
the actuation part 58 has an "L" shaped tip that can impede an actuation
pin 72. Upon movement to the right of actuation part 56 actuation part 58
will move to the right until further movement is prevented by a kickover
arm 71. Upon application of a certain pressure of the piston 50 to
actuation part 56, the shear pin 63 between actuation part 56 and
actuation part 58 will shear and actuation part 56 will continue to move
to the right into actuation part 58 until movement is prevented. Thus,
once the shear pin 63 is sheared, when the actuation part 56 is withdrawn
to the left, the spring 59 will extend and maintain the actuation part 58
in the position to the right abutting the kickover arm 71. As shown in
FIG. 5, during extension of the piston 50, actuation part 56 will abut a
shoulder 64 formed in part 7. Once movement to the right of actuation
part 56 is prevented there, further stroke of the piston extension 50c
into the actuation part 56 occurs by shearing of the shear pins 57 upon
application of a certain force. The further stroke can allow the piston
end 50a to move to the right into the piston chamber 10c thereby
connecting the piston chamber 10 with the passages 54 to release
pressure.

[0028]The kickover arm tool 70 is connected with the seventh part 7. The
kickover arm tool 71 is rotatable with respect to the seventh part 7 by
way of a hinge mechanism 74. Any rotating connection can be made so that
the kickover arm 74 is in rotational connection with respect to the
seventh part 7. The actuation pin 72 is connected to the kickover arm 71
and is positioned so that when the actuation part 58 is in the first
position (to the left) the pin 72 is adjacent to the "L" part of the
actuation part 58 thereby preventing counterclockwise rotation of the
kickover arm 71. When the actuation part 58 moves to the second position
(to the right), the kickover arm 71 is no longer prevented from rotating
in a counterclockwise direction and moves to the kicked-over position.

[0029]FIG. 6 shows a portion of the kickover tool 100 further to the right
than that shown in FIG. 5. The kickover arm 71 farther to the right, a
second kickover arm 81, a valve port 200 and a spring 90 are shown. The
spring part 90 provides bias to move the kickover arm 71 and a kickover
arm 81 into a kicked-over position once the actuation part 58 moves to
the second position (to the right). The force of the springs 90 causes
the kickover arm 71 to rotate counterclockwise and the kickover arm 81 to
rotate clockwise. The resulting kicked-over configuration leaves the
kickover arm 71 at an angle compared to the longitudinal axis of the
kickover tool 1 and the kickover arm 81 extending substantially parallel
to the longitudinal axis of the kickover tool 100. That configuration
leaves the kickover arm 81 in position to enter a side pocket of a
mandrel.

[0030]Referring back to FIG. 5, as the piston 50 actuates and moves
forward, due to the shear pins 57 and shear pin 63, the actuation part 56
and actuation part 58 are moved forward until the actuation part 58 is in
the second position and contacts the kickover arm 71. Once the actuation
part 58 is moved into the second position to the right out of alignment
with the actuation pin 72, the kickover arms 71, 81 move to the
kicked-over position. Upon further actuation of the piston 50, the
actuation part 56 applies a force that shears the pin 63 between the
actuation part 56 and the actuation part 58 and moves farther to the
right. Upon further actuation of the piston 50 the actuation part 56
moves to the right until the actuation part 56 encounters the shoulder 64
in the seventh part 7 that prevents further movement. At that point, as
the piston 50 continues extension, the seventh part 7 is moved with the
piston 50 toward an extended position thereby locating the second
kickover arm 81 and the valve port 200 (with valve in actual use) into a
side pocket mandrel, where the valve (not shown) is either placed or
removed into/from the side pocket mandrel. During the movement of the
piston, pressure inside the piston chamber 10b is at a level thereby
driving the piston 50 outward and moving the part 7. Given no impedance,
once the piston 50 reaches the end of the stroke, the piston chamber 10
connects through the passages 54 to release pressure. If the snap lock
portion 20 is engaged and if the kickover arm 81 is properly located with
the side pocket mandrel, resistance will be provided against the piston
stroke before the piston 50 reaches full stroke. Additional pressure is
then applied thereby increasing pressure to a point where the shear pins
57 shear thereby providing additional stroke so that the piston end 50a
can move to the right in the piston chamber 10c thereby providing
connection through openings 54 and releasing pressure. The pressure in
the piston chamber can be tracked, thereby providing indication that the
tool has properly moved into a side pocket mandrel. For example, a
minimum pressure will be reached as the piston 50 extends and moves part
7, a second minimum pressure will be reached in the piston chamber when
the tool bottoms out in a side pocket mandrel before the pins 57 shear,
and a pressure release will occur when the pins 57 shear and the piston
50 moves to full stroke thereby allowing for pressure to be released
through the opening 54. In contrast, if bottoming out does not occur,
resistance will not be encountered and the minimum pressure indicative of
the pins 57 shearing will not be reached.

[0031]FIG. 7 shows a side view of a cross section of a mandrel. A downhole
orienting sleeve and an uphole orienting sleeve are shown. As noted
earlier, the downhole orienting sleeve and the uphole orienting sleeve
can each interact with the orientation key 60. The body pipe includes a
pocket assay wherein the valve is located. The mandrel is connected to
production tubing at the thread sub.

[0032]FIG. 8 is a closer view of a portion of the mandrel, focusing on the
snap latch profile and the locator key profile. The snap latch profile
interacts with the snap lock portion 20. The locator key profile
interacts with the locator key part 30.

[0033]The previous description mentions a number of devices, including
mandrels and valves. Detailed specifications for both are available at
www.slb.com (Schlumberger's website) and they are available for purchase
from Schlumberger.

[0034]Also, one should note that this invention is in no way limited to
applications concerning the valves noted herein, and can extend to other
applications including but not limited to the noted valve applications.

[0035]The preceding description is meant to illustrate certain features of
embodiments and are not meant to limit the literal meaning of the claims
as recited herein.